Device for locking elevators.



PATENTED OCT. 6, 1903.

H. M. JENKINS. J DEVICE FOR LOOKING ELEVATORS.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 3, 1803.

H0 MODEL.

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U ITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

PATE T OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR LOOKING 'ELEV ATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,570, dated October 6, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. JENKINS, of the city of Allegheny, county of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Locking Elevators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuits and pneumatic or hydraulic connections by means of which the locking apparatus is automatically operated; and Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the locking cylinder and link as applied to the operating-lever of the elevator.

My invention relates to devices for locking the operating-lever of the elevator-car whenever the door of the elevator shall be opened and releasing the operating-lever when the door is closed, so that it shall be impossible for the car to be started when the dooris open; and it consists in certain devices adapted to lock the operating-lever of the car and to be operated through suitable connections by the opening and closing of the door, as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

I will now describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art may manufacture and use the same.

In the drawings, 2 representsthe operatin g-lever of the elevator-car, which atits lower end is pivoted at 3 in the usual manner and is provided with the lever-arms. At the outer 'end of the lever-arm 4 is a pin provided with a frictionroller 5. Inclosing this friction-- roller is the cam-link 6, which link is' pearshaped to permit of the ordinary use of the lever 2 without in any way interfering with supplied to the cylinder.

or moving the link 6. This link 6 is arranged to slide over the shaft 7, which is operated by the lever 2. Secured to the outer end of the link 6 is a piston-rod 8, which is provided with a piston-head 9 in the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 10. On the rear side of the piston,- head 9 is a spring 11, the power of which is exerted against the piston-head to keep it normally at the forward end of the cylinder 10. In front of the piston-head 9 is an air or water inlet pipe 12, by means of which power is This pipe leads to (No model.)-

a valve 13, which is preferably situate in the basement of the building. The valve 13 is provided with an inlet 14 and an exhau st-port 15 and with an inlet valve 16 and an outletvalve 17, the two valves being united bya valve-stem .18. Above the valve 16 is a mag net 21, adapted to attract an armatureconnected with the valve, so as to lift the same,

and thereby close the exhaust valve 17 and open the inlet-valve 16, and to release the valves, so that they may drop by gravity and open the exhaust-valve 17 and close the inle valve 16. This magnet is operated by an electric circuit 22, which leads from a source of energy and opens and closes by switch 23. At each floor of the building the circuit extends to the switch 24, which is provided with two arms 25 and 26, one of which is adapted to be struck by the top of the door 27 as the door is thrown open, and thereby operate the switch and close the electric circuit. When this switch is so operated, the circuit is closed and the magnet 21 is energized, which lifts the'armature connectednvith the valves 16 and 17 and allows theair or water pressure to pass through the pipes 12 to the cylinder 10 and to push back the piston-head 9 and the piston 8, which retracts the pear-shaped cam-link 6 and forces the friction-roller 5 into the smaller end or locking-pocket of the camlink and the arm 4. into a horizontal position, which operates the shaft 7 and brings the operatinglever 2 into a vertical position, where it is immovably held by the air or Water power in the cylinder 10. This not only locks the shaft by bringing the lever to its center, but also looks it by means of the roller 5 fitting in the smaller end or locking-pocket of the cam. When the elevator-door 27 is closed, the top of the door strikes the arm 25 of the switch 24 and moves the same, so as to break the circuit, whereby themagnet 21 is dener gized, and the armature conuectedwith the valves 16 and 17 is released, and the inletvalve 16 is closed and the exhaust-valve 17 is opened, allowing the compressed-air or water pressure to pass out of the cylinder 10 through the pipe 12, whereby the head of the piston 8 is free to be retracted by the power of the spring 11, which brings the larger end of the cam-link 6 in contact with the friction-roller 5, allowing the levers 2 and 4 to be operated in the usual manner and to stop and close the elevator through the shaft 7.

Although I have shown the locking-cylinder 10 attached to the bottom of the elevatorcar and arranged to operate the shaft 7 on the bottom of the car, I do not desire tolimit myself to this arrangement, as it may be applied to the usual operating-lever located in the basement of the building.

Although I have described a hydraulic or pneumatic motor, I do not desire to limit myself to these forms of power mechanism.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The lock is simple and efiiicient, rendering it impossible to setthe elevatorin motion by means of the operating-lever when the elevator-door is open. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of thestarting-shaft, an operating-lever connected with the shaft, a motor adapted to throw the lever to the center, an electric circuitponnected with the motor and adapted toset the same in motion, and a switch adapted to open and close the electric circuit.

2. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of the starting-shaft, an operating-lever connected with the shaft, a motor adapted to throw the lever to the center, a lock adapted to be operated by the motor, an electric circuit connected with the motor and adapted to set the same in motion, and a switch adapted to open and close the electric circuit. I

3. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of the starting-shaft, a lever connected with said shaft, a motor, a cam-link connected with the motor and adapted to operate the starting-shaft lever, an electric circuit connected with the motor and adapted to set the same in motion, and a switch adapted to open and close the electric circuit.

4. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of the starting-shaft, a lever connected with said shaft, a cam arranged to operate the lever, a pneumatic motor adapted to operate the cam, an electric circuit connected with the motor and adapted to set the same in motion, and a switch arranged to be operated by the opening and closing of the elevator-door, and adapted to open and close the electric circuit.

5. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of a starting-shaft and lever, a motor, a cam connected with the motor and adapted to engage with and lock a lever connected with the starting-shaft of the elevator-car.

6. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of a starting-shaft and lever with a lock, consisting of a pneumatic cylinder, pistoirhead and piston, said piston being connected with the lever extending from the starting-shaft of the elevator-car and arranged to lock and release the shaft, on the movement of the piston.

7. In devices for locking elevator-cars, the combination of the starting-shaft, a lever connected with said shaft, a motor, a cam-link connected with the motor and adapted to operate the startin -shaft lever, a spring for imparting a reverse movement to the camlink, an electric circuit connected with the motor and adapted to set the same in motion, and a switch adapted to open and close the electric circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD M. JENKINS. 

